Russell Brookes

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Russell Brookes (; born July 1, 1892 in Redditch, Worcestershire) is a British rally driver.

Biography

Russell Brookes began racing in 1965, notably on BMC Mini Cooper.

Starting in 1976, he competed in the UK championship (with the particularly renowned Ford "works" team), while Björn Waldegård, Hannu Mikkola and Ari Vatanen were his masters in driving in the Ford world. He also worked with the same manufacturer until 1979 in the WRC.

Two seasons followed with the Talbot brand.

In 1981, thanks also to the contribution of his new teammate Jimmy McRae ( Colin McRae's own father) to the Vauxhall/Opel team, on Chevette HSR in Groupe B of Opel Manta 400, each of them won the title of BRC's best driver in turn.

In 1986, Russel Brookes' Opel Vauxhall Astra was not competitive.

In 1987 he played on a Lancia Delta Integral "works".

In 1988, he joined the Ford environment again, still in the BRC, now on Sierra RS Cosworth. He then drove a Ford Sapphire Cosworth 4x4 from 1989 to 1991.

In , he took part in Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, at the time of the Scottish Rally Championship (disputed in Perth).

He had a total of 21 WRC starts from 1973 to 1994, driving Ford, Talbot and Vauxhall/Opel cars. He is credited with a total of 56 points in the World Championship, and won 38 specials. He started and finished with the same rally: the RAC.

Awards

Securities
British Rally Champion (BRC): 1977, Ford Escort RS 1800 (open);
British Rally Champion: 1985, Opel Manta 400;
Ireland Rally Champion: 1989, Ford Sierra Cosworth;

Victories
Audi Sport Rally: 1976 (co-driver John Brown) and 1990 (co-driver Neil Wilson);
New Zealand Rally: 1978 (FIA Coupe of the Drivers (2L) - from the Cup classification that year) (with Chris Porter, on Ford Escort RS 1800);
Rallye des Tulipes: 1978 (ERC, co-driver of his compatriot Peter Bryant, on Ford Escort RS 1800) (a rally already won by Raymond and Edward Brookes in 1956, on Austin A30);
Irish Circuit: 1977 and 1978 (with John Brown on Ford Escort RS1800), and 1983 (with Mike Broad on Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR);
Bahrain Rally: 1984 (with Mike Broad, on Talbot Chrysler Sunbeam Lotus in MERC);
Isle of Man Rally: 1985 (with Mike Broad on Opel Manta 400), 1989 (with Neil Wilson on Ford Sierra RS Cosworth), and 1990 (with the same co-driver, and the same vehicle) (again in 1991);

WRC Podiums;
RAC Rally 1979 (with Paul White on Ford Escort RS 1800);
the CAR Rally in 1977 (with John Brown, same vehicle), and 1978 (with Derek Tucker, on Ford RS 1800);

Other podiums (in ERC):
Cyprus rally in 1984 (with Mike Broad on Opel Manta 400);
of the Cyprus rally